Division Description:
The
Recreation
Division
offers the
citizens of
Orlando
quality
recreational,
fitness,
cultural,
and
educational
facilities
and
programs.
The division
is comprised
of 22
recreation
facilities,
11 pools,
four parks,
61 athletic
fields, 57
tennis
courts, two
tracks, four
racquetball
courts, 289
adult
athletic
teams, 137
youth
athletic
teams and an
extensive
cultural
arts
program.
In addition,
the division
has under
its umbrella
the City of
Orlando’s
Park of the
Americas,
the Orlando
Skateboard
Park,
Festival
Park, and
Older Adult
centers.
The goal of
the division
is to meet
the
recreational
interests
and needs of
the growing
community,
while
providing
high quality
service.
RECREATION DIVISION HISTORY
On August 15, 1925, after vigorous promotion by the National Recreation
Association, the Orlando Recreation Department was created. The department’s
first superintendent, Thomas W. Lantz, worked with an appointed Board of
Recreation, in his words, “selling” recreation to civic organizations through
speeches, editorials and news stories promoting the department’s activities.
Those initial activities ranged from the creation of bowling, volleyball and
basketball leagues as well as a popular tennis program, the institution of
lifeguard supervision at several beaches, and the organization of holiday
activities. WDBO Radio worked with the department to produce an evening radio
broadcast of volunteer-read bedtime stories for children. The first summer
playgrounds to be under trained leadership opened, with leaders including the
young Buddy Ebsen (of later “Beverly Hillbillies” fame) and his sister Vilma.
There was also a tourist program—the Chamber of Commerce held weekly tourist
parties and the Recreation Department was responsible for organizing party
activities. These parties, along with other tourist activities held at Sunshine
Park, sometimes attracted as many as 1,000 participants.
By the next year, the Recreation Department expanded even more, offering
programs as diverse as civic celebrations and dramatic and musical
presentations. Mr. Lantz hired his first paid staff members. A municipal
bathhouse was constructed at Lake Lorna Doone to accommodate the nearly 500
bathers who visited the lake each day. Tennis courts were constructed at
Delaney Park and Lake Eola, baseball diamonds, volleyball courts and a football
field were installed at the fairgrounds, and playground equipment was installed
at both Lake Eola and Lorna Doone.
In 1926, Orlando’s population was approximately 31,000, and it is estimated
that in the Recreation Department’s first seven months of operation, 32,000
people were involved in its activities as either spectators or participants.
Building on the department’s success, its one full-time employee and handful of
part-time employees worked to bring even more to the community. By 1928, enough
playgrounds had been constructed to provide easy accessibility to every child
in Orlando. More playing fields were built, four more bath houses were
constructed, neighborhood centers were established at every school, a municipal
auditorium opened, a municipal golf course was established, and larger parks
were created.
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